Chapter Sixty-Eight
Marcus
I called my brother to give him our wedding date and ask him to be my best man. Although I felt a twinge of guilt for not choosing Jax or Linc, it just felt right for my brother to be there. He’s been by my side my entire life, and it made sense that he should stand with me as I say my vows.
It’s been two weeks since Gigi and I left the hotel and she mentioned the way she would want to get married. Honestly, it would be so much easier, and so much more fun, to elope and celebrate the way we want. A few days away, before the spectacle of my father’s version of the perfect wedding, would be the ideal way to unwind.
Gigi has done so much to help me, putting her life on hold to make sure I inherited the business, always sticking by my side, so she deserves to have some fun in the midst of all this. We never know what this life will bring, and sometimes I think ‘what if this is her only wedding?’. Shit, sometimes I wonder if this will be my only wedding. Even if we do part ways when this is all over, if this were the only time for her, I would want her to have everything she wanted. That’s why I took her to Disney and it’s why I’m pulling my phone out of my pocket to text Melonie and Audrey that we need to make another set of plans.
I walk in the door from the garage after meeting with Audrey and Melonie for a couple hours. They’re going to coordinate their men; I’ll make sure Gigi is on board. I would surprise her, but this is a bit more of a commitment than an engagement.
“G?” I call out as I loosen my tie, walking into the living room. Her car is in the driveway, but she’s not on the couch, no answer coming from the kitchen. I’m helped by Ethel, who is sitting outside Gigi’s room, meowing in protest at her closed door.
“Is she in there?” I ask the cat. I receive another meow in response.
Is this how far gone I am? I’m having a conversation with her damn cat?
I walk to the door and gently knock. “Princess?”
“Yeah?”
“Ethel wants in. Can I open the door?”
It’s quiet for a moment, then she responds with an ‘okay’. I turn the knob and Ethel shoots into the room, jumping onto the bed where Gigi is laying.
“Are you okay?”
She keeps her back to me as she pets Ethel. “I’m fine.”
I might not be experienced in relationships, but I’m pretty sure when a woman says ‘I’m fine’, nothing, in fact, is fine. I walk to the bed, sitting on the edge, facing away from her.
“Are you sure?”
“No.” She sniffles.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“If it’s nothing, then why were you crying?”
“I wasn’t crying.”
“Princess, you can’t lie to me.”
“I got a call today.”
“Okay.”
The room goes silent as the bed moves with her silent sob. I turn as I sit, still facing away from where her head is on the pillow. I reach my hand out and place my hand on her ankle, hoping the contact can soothe her.
“My mom called me.”
“Your birth mom?” My stomach drops at the thought of what that call could do to her.
“Yeah.”
“Shit. How did she get your number?”
“She called the spa.”
“What did she say?”
“I only remember bits and pieces of the conversation. She said she was sorry, that she was a horrible mother, that she wonders how I turned out.”
I kick off my shoes and lay down behind her, pulling her into me. “How do you feel about that?”
“My brain is sort of all over the place. It made me sad, because her voice was so unfamiliar. I didn’t even know my own mother’s voice.”
I run my fingers through her hair. “How did the conversation end?”
“I’m meeting her for coffee next week.”
“Where’s your father in all this?”
“He left her ten years ago.”
“Are you sure you want to see her?”
“I don’t really want to see her. I want her to see me. Does that make sense?”
“It does. I don’t want you to go by yourself, though. Pick anyone from the crew, but you’re not heading into that situation alone.”
“Okay.”
“And it’s okay if you change your mind about seeing her between then and now.”
“I know.”
We continue to lay together until the sun is gone. I keep thinking about how this just seems so odd. Why, after all of these years, is her mother reaching out?